The power of Canada’s game: Hockey Day in Canada comes to Surrey

Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, a yearly celebration connecting hockey communities across Canada, is coming to Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood.

On Jan. 17, Hockey Day in Canada Punjabi: Live from Surrey will bring a day of hockey excitement to the Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex and Museum of Surrey.

The celebration, which is hosted by the City of Surrey, kicks off at the sport and ice complex from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. Hockey fans can catch a live, on-site broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition, featuring host Randip Janda.

The broadcast aims to celebrate community hockey and will feature interviews with South Asian junior hockey players from Surrey. There will also be an on-ice clinic for kids, which will be run by special guest coaches from the community.

Janda says he is excited to share stories of people from Surrey and the Lower Mainland, ranging from hockey stars of the future to individuals who have paved the way for those to become involved in the sport.

“Hockey Day in Canada, in a lot of ways, is about storytelling on our program, where we’re able to share the spotlight with people who are doing fantastic work and helping to grow the game and really writing that next chapter in hockey when it comes to the Punjabi and South Asian community,” Janda says.

He says the broadcast will begin at 4:00 pm and also highlight a few hockey games happening across the country.

Cloverdale Recreation Centre Manager Tyler Dinwoodie says the event coming to Surrey and having a dedicated Punjabi celebration stems from the city being home to a prominent Punjabi and South Asian community.

The broadcast will not end at the sport and ice complex. From 7:00 to 10:00 pm, Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition will cover a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers at the Museum of Surrey. Visitors will be able to watch the broadcast through a large viewing screen at the museum, as well as check out its Our Connection to Hockey interactive exhibit and other exhibitor booths.

Dinwoodie says the celebration will bring members of the community together to focus on and bond over Canada’s nationally treasured sport, adding city council and Mayor Brenda Locke are strong supporters of the event.

“It’s very exciting to work here because we get so much support from above to make sure [these initiatives] remain a focus and an importance to the community.”

Janda says there was a time when hockey was a closed-off space for many communities, and through this event, he hopes little kids know they have a space in the game.

“What our show in Surrey will highlight is that there are so many fantastic stories from people of all walks of life, all backgrounds, where hockey is no longer closed off. It’s a game that is accessible to everybody,” he adds.

“There are people who are able to either play it, coach it, broadcast it. Going to Surrey with our Punjabi-spoken show highlights how hockey is the Canadian game — and there are opportunities for everybody.”